Highly transparent and flexible triboelectric nanogenerators: performance improvements and fundamental mechanisms

Feng Ru Fan,Zhongqun Tian,Zhong Lin Wang,Wei Tang,Cuiping Zhang,Jianjun Luo,Chaoyu Li

doi:10.1039/c4ta02747g

Abstract

Transparent, flexible and highly efficient power sources are essential components of mobile electronics and optoelectronic devices. Here, based on the first generation of the transparent triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG), we demonstrate a simple and innovative design that can simultaneously improve the output performance and transmittance of the TENG. The improved TENG gives a maximum output up to 200 V and 7 μA at a current density of ∼0.78 μA cm−2. The TENG shows a high transmittance of ∼78%. To deeply understand the nature of the triboelectric effect, we investigated the influence of the UV–ozone treatment, surface properties, and surrounding environment on the output performance. Integrating the characterization results, we conclude that the tribocharge generation of the PDMS surface is probably due to the bond breaking of Si–O–Si groups, and is closely related to the surface properties and surrounding environment.

Highlights

Transparent electronic devices built on exible substrates are expected to meet emerging technological demands for the generation of exible electronic and optoelectronic devices.[1,2,3,4] A suitable energy source is a vital part for realizing fully self-powered systems
We use this feature to investigate the mechanism of triboelectri cation by examining various factors that affect the performance of the triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG). Another meaningful outcome of our study is that we explore the mechanism from the microscopic and molecular perspectives using the methods for surface characterization, which would be bene cial to the improvement and application of the TENG on a large scale
The use of an arched structure or spacers can signi cantly improve the output performance of the TENG, which has been demonstrated in previous reports.[23,24]

Summary

Introduction

Demonstrated, which are the only possible power sources that light can penetrate through.[13,14,15,16,17] there is a need for a low-cost and large-area compatible technology for producing transparent TENGs with high-output power supply, aiming for applications such as touch screens. The competing possible mechanisms appear to include electron transfer, ion transfer, bond dissociation, chemical changes, and material transfer, and it is likely that different mechanisms may be involved depending on speci c materials and environmental conditions.[18,19,20,21] Usually, it needs specialized equipment to characterize the charged surface and study the mechanism.[21,22] It is worth noting that the output performance of the TENG can directly re ect the capacity of triboelectri cation We use this feature to investigate the mechanism of triboelectri cation by examining various factors that affect the performance of the TENG. Another meaningful outcome of our study is that we explore the mechanism from the microscopic and molecular perspectives using the methods for surface characterization, which would be bene cial to the improvement and application of the TENG on a large scale

Fabrication of transparent TENG devices

Results and discussion

Conclusion